A HAMPSHIRE peer has warned that the New Forest could be damaged by plans to complete a walking route around the UK coast.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu said the English Coastal Footpath could result in too many people accessing to environmentally-sensitive areas known as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The route of the proposed path, which aims to improve public access to the foreshore, is due to include part of the Beaulieu Estate.

Lord Montagu said talks taking place with Natural England were focusing on nesting and overwintering birds and the potential impact on opening up the area to walkers.

Speaking at the annual Beaulieu Estate dinner, he said: “Progress has been made in our discussions but there remain a number of areas when the condition of SSSIs, which we are supposed to be working to improve, could decline as a result of increased public activity.

“A delay in the formal consultation makes it difficult to say what the final outcome will be.

“But I have no doubt that there will be continued dialogue between the estates along the western Solent, local residents and Natural England before the route of the path is finally settled.”

In a wide-ranging speech Lord Montagu also described some of the changes that have taken place on the estate over the past 12 months.

He said: “In Palace House the Victorian kitchen was re-opened in its original location.

“The family cook, Dena Saunderson, is now able to demonstrate bread-making and other baking skills using the coal-fired iron range.

“Having cooking smells wafting through the house is a great way of welcoming, and when they follow the smell to the kitchen they can now buy preserves sourced from estate-grown produce.

“Extending this theme, I was delighted to re-publish my mother’s book, To the Manor Born, which includes an extraordinary selection old recipes from the family archives – including one for viper’s broth and another for oyster sausages.”

Lord Montagu also paid tribute to Ken Thornber, a former leader of Hampshire County Council, who died earlier this month.

Mr Thornber, who lived in Sway and often attended the estate dinner, stepped down in May after 40 years on the council.

The guest speaker was writer and broadcaster Tom Cunliffe, who has had a mooring on the Beaulieu River since 1985.